Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaco Beach and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Jaco Beach and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Jaco Beach versus $1,677 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,288 in Jaco Beach versus $2,608 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,120 in Jaco Beach versus $3,540 in Mexico City.

Living in Jaco Beach costs roughly 13% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jaco Beach 6% above, Mexico City 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.65 ₡5,213

$12.14 MX$206

-4.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 ₡19.9K

$53.9 MX$914

-17.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.67 ₡4,329

$11.09 MX$188

-12.80%

Cappuccino

$4.06 ₡1,819

$4.10 MX$69.5

-0.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,078

$1.68 MX$28.53

43.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₡838

$1.39 MX$23.55

34.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 ₡1,447

$3.33 MX$56.5

-3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 ₡1,920

$5.88 MX$99.7

-27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₡882

$1.85 MX$31.41

6.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 ₡996

$3.17 MX$53.8

-29.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ₡1,112

$2.07 MX$35.13

19.81%

Eggs

$2.63 ₡1,178

$2.93 MX$49.67

-10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.62 ₡4,751

$12.59 MX$214

-15.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.96 ₡4,008

$10.11 MX$172

-11.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 ₡5,432

$16.09 MX$273

-24.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 ₡2,211

$3.39 MX$57.5

45.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₡701

$2.08 MX$35.26

-24.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,041

$2.12 MX$35.97

115.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 ₡1,592

$2.41 MX$40.95

47.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ₡692

$2.13 MX$36.11

-27.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ₡659

$2.01 MX$34.02

-26.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡426

$1.55 MX$26.21

-38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₡860

$1.36 MX$23.15

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.81 ₡2,601

$5.77 MX$97.8

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 ₡6,314

$17.74 MX$301

-20.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,168

$2.07 MX$35.11

26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₡996

$4.61 MX$78.3

-51.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 ₡1,078

$2.05 MX$34.84

17.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡730

$0.58 MX$9.79

181.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.66 ₡3,875

$6.07 MX$103

42.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 ₡683

$1.55 MX$26.34

-1.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K ₡10.0M

$22.9K MX$388.1K

-2.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.8K ₡15.6M

$27.2K MX$462.0K

27.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 ₡35.8K

$67.4 MX$1,144

18.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.02 ₡10.7K

$30.62 MX$520

-21.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.07 ₡21.1K

$37.24 MX$632

26.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.9 ₡24.1K

$61.5 MX$1,043

-12.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₡3,663

$7.11 MX$121

15.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$483 ₡216.1K

$456 MX$7,739

5.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,329 ₡3.3M

$13.7K MX$232.3K

-46.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.95 ₡11.2K

$74.2 MX$1,259

-66.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 ₡25.5K

$57.0 MX$967

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.1K

$115 MX$1,958

12.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₡59.0K

$122 MX$2,061

8.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 ₡345.0K

$1,148 MX$19.5K

-32.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 ₡238.6K

$709 MX$12.0K

-24.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 ₡892.8K

$2,577 MX$43.7K

-22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 ₡498.6K

$1,295 MX$22.0K

-13.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$405 ₡181.3K

$1,082 MX$18.4K

-62.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

11.3

-22.30%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jaco Beach: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Jaco Beach and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 167% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Jaco Beach vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $345 per month, with Jaco Beach cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jaco Beach vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jaco Beach is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 167% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $771 in Jaco Beach versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $483 in Jaco Beach versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jaco Beach – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,456 in Jaco Beach versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jaco Beach but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Jaco Beach the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Jaco Beach is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Jaco Beach and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jaco Beach gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.